by Bubacarr Gaye
In an exclusive interview, the Executive Director of National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP), Isatou Dabo, expressed concern about lack of cooperation of victims and the general public in terms of reporting and dealing with cases of trafficking in person. Due to [ours being a close-nit] society, some people worry about discrimination and stigmatization, and so for them to come out and explain their experience is difficult”.
She however urged victims and the general public to report cases of trafficking in persons to the Agency. The agency, under the Ministry of Justice, has the responsibility of combating trafficking in person in The Gambia with its mandate focused on four key areas: prevention of trafficking in persons, protecting victims and vulnerable population to trafficking, and investigation and prosecution of persons found wanting.
The Executive Director explained that trafficking in person is essentially one person using an individual to gain profit at the detriment of that individual. She clarified that trafficking in persons is different from smuggling, which she said is about having a contract with other people.
“In trafficking in person, there are three different elements to look at: The act of embarking on human trafficking, the means and purpose. If these three elements are not observed in the process, then it is something else, but not trafficking in person,” she remarked. The NAATIP boss warned that trafficking in person is a criminal offence; that anyone suspected to be a perpetrator of such, they will be treated like it is done in criminal cases.
“The trafficking in person laws that we have in The Gambia are stricter than laws in other states. I believe our anti-trafficking laws are not bad; we have good anti-trafficking laws,” she assured.
